A teaching assistant for special needs children at Sto-Rox Middle School is accused of having sex with a 13-year-old student.

A teaching assistant for special needs children at Sto-Rox Middle School is accused of having sex with a 13-year-old student.

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Updated: 6:21 PM EDT May 18, 2015

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WEBVTT SPOKE WITH NEIGHBORS OOF THE SUSPECT WHO SAY THEY ARE IN TOTAL DISBELIEF. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THAT TEACHER'S ASSISTANT WORKED HERE AT STO-ROX MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THREE MONTHS BEFORE POLICE SAY HE STARTED RAPING A STUDENT AND INVESTIGATORS SAY IT HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. THIS IS 24-YEAR-OLD MATTHEW BERTOVICH A TEACHER ASSISTANT WHO THEY HIRED TO WORK WITH SPECIAL NEEDS MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NOVEMBER. BUT BY FEBRUARY, POLICE SAY HE WAS RAPING A STUDENT IN HIS CLASS. YOU CAN'T ANTICIPATE EVERYTHING THAT OCCURS. AND THIS IS JUST A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. Reporter: THE STO-ROX SUPERINTENDENT SAID BERTOVICH PASSED BACKGROUND CHECKS AND NO RED FLAGS AND THEN POLICE CAME TO HIM WITH THE CHARGES AND BERTOVICH WAS PLACED ON LEAVE. THIS IS NOT HOW STO-ROX SCHOOL DOES BUSINESS. Reporter: THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THEY HAVE DEALT WITH ACCUSATIONS AGAINST A TEACHERS ASSISTANT. THIS BOY'S FATHER FILED A POLICE REPORT SAYING THAT A SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTANT IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ATTACKED HIS SON. NOW, EIGHT MONTHS LATER, BERTOVICH IS CHARGED. ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT HE CONTACTED THE 13-YEAR-OLD STUDENT USING A FACEBOOK PAGE WHERE HE ALTERED HIS LAST NAME. THERE POLICE SAY HE SENT THE STUDENT PHOTOS AND ASKED FOR SOME IN RETURN AND TALKED ABOUT THEIR SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS. AT ONE POINT -- HE WAS A GOOD KID. WHEN I FIRST GOT, HE BABYSITED HIM WHILE I HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR'S. Reporter: CURT KELLER LIVES NEXT DOOR TO WHERE BERTOVICH LIVES WITH HIS PARENTS. I'M TOTALLY IN SHOCK. Reporter: THIS IS NOT EVER WHAT HE EXPECTED FROM THE BOY WHO GREW UP FEET AWAY AND HOPED ONE DAY TO BE A TEACHER. POLICE SAY THE PROOF IS ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND CONFIRMED BY THE STUDENT INVESTIGATORS SAY BERTOVICH RAPED. MATTHEW BERTOVICH IS IN THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL.

Special needs assistant accused of sex with Sto-Rox student, 13

A teaching assistant for special needs children at Sto-Rox Middle School is accused of having sex with a 13-year-old student.